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Am I being inefficient?

2K views 5 replies 6 participants last post by  firehawkmph 
#1 ·
So I finished one of two small bathrooms.

Before:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._661528913747_15602563_38169953_5692524_n.jpg

After:
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs164.snc3/19144_700473862757_15602563_39617078_2845000_n.jpg

Question: Working with large tiles (12x12), I basically did a dry run first where I cut and laid ALL the tile so I could take my time cutting around the toilet and door frames. This tiny bathroom has TWO doors, haha. Here's a picture of my dry run: http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/hs090.snc3/15734_686165691447_15602563_39105054_1596692_n.jpg Is there a more efficient way to do this? When I see it done on TV they are somehow just going at it and cutting so quickly... but it takes me forever to cut a piece so I worry my mortar would dry if I did that.

I've since learned that I should have started from the center and move out, but I'm pretty happy with the final result.

Thanks!
 
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#3 ·
the pros go MUCH faster, with that kind of speed, their thinset doesn't dry on them. I'm no pro by any means, but i do tile here and there. If it is pretty straight forward with just a few cuts here and there i'll just go to it. If there are a lot of cuts, or complicated cuts, i like to cut in advance, its usually a lot less messy that way. I hate have my cut be wrong and there be thinset all over everything
 
#5 ·
In most cases,a pro will draw a layout grid--and make all cuts before any mud is mixed.

The layout allows you to see it you have any impossible cuts --or ugly narrow cuts before you even start.

Bottom line---You did well---Not a waste of time---speed will increase with experience.


I have several laser layout tools. These make complicated layouts much,much faster. These laser layout tools are to expensive for a one time home project. This is one way that a pro can work faster than a homeowner.----Mike----
 
#6 ·
In addition to what the others said, what's the hurry when you are doing work on your own house? Nobody should be keeping track of your time. On a small project like yours, a dry layout makes it a lot easier to visualize what it should look like, and most importantly, catch any obvious problems with the layout before you start. Looks like it turned out nice.
Besides that, if you do your home jobs too fast, your spouse will just find more stuff for you to do. It never ends.:)
Mike Hawkins:)
 
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